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Abstract
Proteolysis of extracellular matrix (ECM) and basement membrane is an essential mechanism used by cancer cells for their invasion and metastasis. The ECM proteinases are divided into three groups: metalloproteinases, cysteine proteinases and serine proteinases. The urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA) system is one of the serine proteinase systems involved in ECM degradation. Members of this system, including uPA and its receptor (uPAR), are overexpressed in several malignant tumors. This system plays a major role in adhesion, migration, invasion and metastasis of cancer cells, thus making it an important target for anticancer drug therapy. Several strategies, including the use of antisense oligodeoxynucleotides, ribozymes, DNAzyme, RNAi, uPA inhibitors, soluble uPAR, catalytically inactive uPA fragments, synthetic peptides and synthetic hybrids are under study, as they interfere with the expression and/or activity of uPA or uPAR in tumor cells. Herein, we discuss the various pharmaceutical strategies under investigation to combat the uPA activity in cancer.
Financial & competing interests disclosure
The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.
No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.